Filemon Vela: “I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in support of S. 2107, the Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act of…”

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in support of S. 2107, the Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act of 2019. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this crucial bill. I introduced this important legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives with support from Members of both sides of the aisle. This bipartisan bill authorizes the hiring of additional agricultural specialists, agricultural technicians, and agricultural K-9 teams at our international ports of entry and has the support of nearly one dozen Governors and over 150 agriculture and trade stakeholders across this country. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters from Governors and industry groups addressing their support for this bill. State of Utah, Office of the Governor, Salt Lake City, UT, January 31, 2020. Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Mike Rogers, Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Rogers: I appreciate your work leading the House Committee on Homeland Security. I write today in support of H.R. 4482, Protecting America's Food & Agriculture Act of 2019. The bill would authorize funding to hire additional Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel to help conduct Agriculture Quarantine Inspection services at the United States' ports of entry.…”